{"product_id":"rick-wakeman-rhapsodies","title":"Rick Wakeman – Rhapsodies","description":"\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRick Wakeman – Rhapsodies\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eReleased in May 1979, \u003cem\u003eRhapsodies\u003c\/em\u003e is a wonderfully eclectic double album from “Rick Wakeman”, the celebrated keyboard player best known for his work with “Yes” and a prolific solo career. His final studio album for A\u0026amp;M Records, \u003cem\u003eRhapsodies\u003c\/em\u003e deliberately moves away from the long-form symphonic suites associated with some of his earlier records, instead presenting a series of shorter, contrasting instrumental pieces ranging from progressive rock and jazz to classical, tango and theatrical themes. The album reached No. 25 in the UK Albums Chart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eRecorded during 1978–1979, the album was produced by Tony Visconti, who also contributed acoustic guitar and engineering. Wakeman handles keyboards throughout, joined by Nico Ramsden on electric guitar, Bruce Lynch on bass and Frank Gibson Jr. on drums and percussion. The musicians give the album a more conventional band feel than some of Wakeman's grander orchestral projects, while his keyboards remain firmly at the centre of the arrangements.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eThe album's title gives a good indication of its deliberately wide-ranging character. “Rhapsody In Blue” draws on George Gershwin's famous 1924 composition, while “Animal Showdown” incorporates the familiar melody of “Yes We Have No Bananas”. Elsewhere, Wakeman explores tango on “Wooly Willy Tango”, dramatic instrumental rock on “The Pulse”, and classical and theatrical influences on “March Of The Gladiators” and “Flacons De Neige”. The opening “Pedra Da Gavea” also features Wakeman using vocals and vocoder alongside his keyboards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003eWith its mixture of progressive rock, keyboards, classical influences, jazz, tango and eccentric British humour, \u003cem\u003eRhapsodies\u003c\/em\u003e is a particularly distinctive entry in Wakeman's solo catalogue. This original 1979 A\u0026amp;M double LP is a strong choice for collectors of Rick Wakeman, progressive rock and the more adventurous side of late-1970s instrumental music.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTracklist:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSide A\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col data-spread=\"false\" start=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePedra Da Gavea – 4:03\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFront Line – 3:43\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBombay Duck – 3:14\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnimal Showdown (Incorporating Yes We Have No Bananas) – 2:40\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBig Ben – 3:37\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSide B\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col data-spread=\"false\" start=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRhapsody In Blue – 5:26\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWooly Willy Tango – 3:22\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Pulse – 5:20\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSwan Lager – 2:45\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSide C\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col data-spread=\"false\" start=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMarch Of The Gladiators – 5:00\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFlacons De Neige – 5:01\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Flasher – 5:32\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Palais – 2:24\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSide D\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col data-spread=\"false\" start=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStand By – 3:30\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSea Horses – 3:55\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHalf Holiday – 3:00\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSummertime – 4:35\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCredits – 3:10\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/SfewkKi5BwU?si=gzK8rOcTTEd_Ji3q\" title=\"YouTube video player\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"A\u0026M Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55526703694166,"sku":"AMLX 68508","price":4.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1009\/1013\/7686\/files\/rn-image_picker_lib_temp_55d34274-a6e2-4c91-a259-aaa6595b0488.jpg?v=1790673353","url":"https:\/\/www.sounds-grounds.co.uk\/products\/rick-wakeman-rhapsodies","provider":"Sounds + Grounds","version":"1.0","type":"link"}